Aviation Ethics
What is ethics?
According to Merriam Webster(n.d.), ethics is defined as a code of conduct that governs each individual's moral compass. To me, ethics is a baseline for how each individual should behave that does not violate another person's rights. In essence, fairness in everything we do.
So how can ethics be applied in the aviation world?
The aviation industry is extremely demanding and it can take a toll on the workers within the industry. The ethical concern I want to share about in this post is on working hours. Many a times, management would want to churn out as many aircraft as possible to facilitate flying. Being in the aviation industry, every second an aircraft is grounded is money lost. As maintainers, it is their duty to produce the aircraft and get them flying. When time is of the essence, supervisors may overstep and stretch working hours just to meet datelines without being duly compensated. This will in turn bring out ethical concerns within the workplace. Drawing comparison from another job in the aviation industry, an air traffic controller is only allowed to work a maximum of 10hours a day, with 8 hours of rest each day within 24hours after the shift has ended for 6 consecutive days (Code of Federal Regulations, n.d.). In times of manpower shortage, controllers may be tasked to extend their shift hours which is unethical as it goes against regulations. All these ethical dilemma may result in mishaps which leads to disastrous consequences.
After working long enough within the aviation industry, one would surely assume a senior role. Being at that position with certain level of authority, it is important that one has the moral courage to call a time out in times of ethical dilemmas. Weighing the pros and cons of generating aircrafts for flight, or risking mishaps which could lead to loss of lives.
References
Code of Federal Regulations. (n.d.-a). Part 65 - Certification: Airmen other than flight crewmembers. Retrieved July 7, 2022, from https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-D/part-65
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Ethic. The Merriam-Webster.Com Dictionary. Retrieved July 7, 2022, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ethic
I really like how you included the federal regulation on the work hours for air traffic control workers. Here in the army, aviation maintainers are allowed to work 12 hour-long shifts that may be extended if the maintainer requests it. Along with that, it has to be approved by the commanding officer and the extensions are 1 hour long. After the immediate commander approves the first extended hour, if another hour-long extension is requested, it goes to the next level commander and so forth, but what comes with it is the generation of risk involved with long work hours like you mentioned in your last paragraph.
ReplyDeleteOne thing I do question is how you defined ethics in your terms. If ethics is a baseline on what to do and not to do as long as it violates peoples rights, what sets those "rights"? If someone can do something within their right but puts public safety in jeopardy, then is it justified since it's their "right"?
Hi Leon, thank you for your reply. I definitely agree that the longer the working hours, the more risk is being taken especially by the superiors. Question is, where do we draw the line? Moving on to your last comment, ethics has always been a very touchy topic which I feel it is very subjective. As you pointed out, what may be right to some, may not be right to others. Case in point, the recent spate of abortion laws across the US. We can go on and on about what's right and what's not. However, i very much believe in autonomy. Therefore, my point of ethics being a baseline on how things should be done. Ultimately, it all lies on the person executing the action. With that, I always believe in the statement that "do not do unto others, what others do unto you".
ReplyDeleteThe addition of working hours in conjunction with moral dilemmas is the first that I've read out of the blogs for our class. I like how you talk about grounded aircraft being money lost which immediately has some guy far up the chain with only the idea that planes=money chewing down the back of the guy who just wants to do his job safely for himself and the people that will board the aircraft he works on. It's a subtle cause and effect of the people that don't know against people that do know.
ReplyDeleteI can totally vouch for your experiences as a Apache mechanic myself. At times we are overworked and with a short turn around point. There are definitely instances when someone has to put their foot down especially as a leader who is there to look after their junior soldiers. Unfortunately being in aviation in the military the consequences are far severe if you are found guilty of the loss of a pilot. At the end of the day we all are responsible for the safety and well being of everyone in the work environment in this case a hangar to get tasks done safely and properly.
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